Seahawks GM John Schneider has no comment on lockout situation

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RENTON — Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider was more than happy to take general questions about Thursday’s NFL Draft at the VMAC on Tuesday.

As for questions about players who reported for work earlier in the day only to be denied entry to the building, though, Schneider’s hands were tied.

“Can’t talk about that,” the GM said. “Sorry.”

He was asked what his understanding was as far as free agency and player contact is concerned, in the wake of U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson’s ruling Monday in favor of the players in the ongoing NFL labor dispute. Nelson ruled the owners’ lockout of the players is illegal and ordered it lifted.

But several reports around the league indicate that owners are still not allowing players to use team facilities, and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello was quoted by NFL.com as saying that the league is still instructing its teams to disallow players from using team facilities. That’s because the league has requested a stay of Nelson’s ruling. She is expected to announce a ruling on that request some time Wednesday.

It’s widely thought that the league will be granted its request for a stay. If Nelson denies that request, some believe the league would appeal that decision, meaning there could be more wait time before the NFL is back open for business.

Schneider said he’s approaching the draft with the assumption that no player trades will be allowed, an assumption that the status quo — lockout still in place, NFL still closed for business — will remain throughout the Draft.